Distributed control flueric amplifier

ABSTRACT

A flueric amplifier with two control ports for each control channel. Each control channel is split to operate both ports. The control flow is split and applied to the power jet through the two separate control ports. This separate application is called distributed control and results in greater flow recovery and pressure recovery as well as improved switching time. One of the control ports comprises an entrainment control port for introducing positive pressure control fluid to the attachment bubble existing along the attachment wall, and the other one of the control ports constitutes a momentum exchange control port for creating a momentum impact force on the power stream.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Chris E. Spyropoulos Washington, D.C.[21] Appl. No. 770,184 [22] Filed Oct. 24, 1968 [45] Patented May 11.1971 Assignee The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army [54] DISTRIBUTED CONTROL FLUERIC AMPLIFIER 4Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl l37/81.5 [51] Int. Cl FlSc 1/08,

F15c 1/14 [50] Field of Search 137/815 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,124,160 3/1964 Zilberfarb l37/8l.5 3,186,422 6/1965Boothe..... 137/81.5 3,272,214 9/1966 Warren 137/815 3,405,725 10/1968Fox 137/815 LEFT OUTPUT CONTROL Primary ExaminerSamuel ScottAtt0rneysI-Iarry M. Saragovitz, Edward .1. Kelly, Herbert Berl and JohnD. Edgerton ABSTRACT: A flueric amplifier with two control ports foreach control channel. Each control channel is split'to operate bothports. The control flow is split and applied to the power jet throughthe two separate control ports. This separate application is calleddistributed control and results in greater flow recovery and pressurerecovery as well as improved switching time. One of the control portscomprises an entrainment control port for introducing positive pressurecontrol fluid to the attachment bubble existing along the attachmentwall, and the other one of the control ports constitutes a momentumexchange control port for creating a momentum impact force on the powerstream.

RIGHT OUTPUT 90 RIGHT CONTROL PATENTEU m1 1 12m LEFT OUTPUT RIGHT OUTPUT7 WRIGHT CONTROL INVENTOR cums E. SP Y ROPOULOS DISTRIBUTED CONTROLFLUERIC AMPLIFIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is a flueric amplifier in which each control flow issplit and applied to the power jet through at least two separate controlports. This separate application is called distributed control andresults in greater flow recovery and pressure recovery and improvedswitching time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The sole FIGURE is a top view of aflueric amplifier according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The FIGURE represents a fluericamplifier, especially a bistable amplifier. The power jet flow isapplied through a DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT and enters aninteraction chamber 2 through ajet nozzle area 3.

After deflection, accomplished in a manner described below, the fluidfrom the power jet leaves the chamber through either a left outputchannel 4 or a right output channel 5, which are separated by a splitter6.

As illustrated, a control stream is being applied to the chamber from aleft primary control channel 7. Channel 7 is split into secondarychannels 8 and 9 by a splitter 10.

Valves 11 and 12, which may be variable, are located respectively inchannels 8 and 9 to control the flueric impedance of the channels 8 and9 for proper proportioning of flow between the two channels.

The control flows from channels 8 and 9 enter the interaction chamberthrough control ports 13 and 14 respectively.

Elements 7a through 14a from the right side of the amplifierrespectively correspond in description and function to elements 7through 14 from the left side of the amplifier.

The distance from jet nozzle 3 to power jet splitter 6 is preferablykept to a minimum for optimum pressure and flow recovery.

In the operation of the amplifier, assume that the power jet is lockedonto the left wall of the interaction chamber. This configuration of thejet causes a low-pressure region, sometimes called an attachment bubble,to form along the left wall. The low-pressure region holds the jet tothe wall by maintaining a pressure differential across the jet.

When'it is desired to move the jet away from the left wall, fluid mustbe introduced from the left control to build up pres sure in the bubbleregion, supply the entrainment needs of the jet on the bubble side, andthus destroy the bubble. In the place of the bubble is left a region ofhigher pressure which tends to deflect the jet to the right. The controlfluid for this ports on each side of the interaction chamber. Three ormore ports could be used. However, the preferred embodiment uses twoports for relative ease of construction.

Although the preferred use of the improved control is in a bistableamplifier, it would be obvious to use it in a proportional fluericamplifier.

Although the invention has been described in terms of an amplifierhaving left and right sides and two output channels, the invention wouldalso be useful in a three-dimensional amplifier having more than twosides.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Iclaimi l. ln a flueric amplifier of the wall attachment type havingtachment walls, the improvement comprising:

groups of longitudinally aligned control ports opening up into saidchamber upstream of said attachment wall on opposite sides of the powerstream with each output channel lying on diametrically opposite sides ofthe power stream from respective group of control ports effectingmovement of said power stream into the same,

at least one upstream control port on each side of said chambercomprising an entrainment control port for introducing positive pressurecontrol fluid to the attachment bubble existing along the attachmentwall and at least one control port on the same side of said chamber anddownstream of said entrainment control port constituting a momentumexchange control port for creating a momentum impact force on the sameside of said power stream,

a common primary control channel for independently supplying controlfluid and secondary control channels separately connecting the controlports for each group to its primary control channel to simultaneouslysupply control fluid to said chamber through said entrainment controlport and said momentum exchange control .port.

2. An amplifier according to claim I wherein said groups of controlports number two and open up into said chamber on diametrically oppositesides thereof.

3. An amplifier according to claim I wherein each of the secondarycontrol channels includes a variable flueric impedance for control ofthe amounts of fluid flow in each secondary channel.

4. An amplifier according to claim 3 wherein said groups of controlports are two in number and said groups of control ports and said outputchannels are diametrically opposite each other.

1. In a flueric amplifier of the wall attachment type having input meansfor admitting a fluid input power stream into an interaction chamber,attachment walls downstream of said inlet and on opposite sides of saidchamber and separate output channels leading from the chamber downstreamof said attachment walls, the improvement comprising: groups oflongitudinally aligned control ports opening up into said chamberupstream of said attachment wall on opposite sides of the power streamwith each output channel lying on diametrically opposite sides of thepower stream from respective group of control ports effecting movementof said power stream into the same, at least one upstream control porton each side of said chamber comprising an entrainment control port forintroducing positive pressure control fluid to the attachment bubbleexisting along the attachment wall and at least one control port on thesame side of said chamber and downstream of said entrainment controlport constituting a momentum exchange control port for creating amomentum impact force on the same side of said power stream, a commonprimary control channel for independently supplying control fluid andsecondary control channels separately connecting the control ports foreach group to its primary control channel to simultaneously supplycontrol fluid to said chamber through said entrainment control port andsaid momentum exchange control port.
 2. An amplifier according to claim1 wherein said groups of control ports number two and open up into saidchamber on diametrically opposite sides thereof.
 3. An amplifieraccording to claim 1 wherein each of the secondary control channelsincludes a variable flueric impedance for control of the amounts offluid flow in each secondary channel.
 4. An amplifier according to claim3 wherein said groups of control ports are two in number and said groupsof control ports and said output channels are diametrically oppositeeach oTher.